You might already be very familiar with Dr. Kjell Anders Nordström, the author of several books, including Momentum. It’s been my pleasure to have him as a guest on the Leaders in Value Chain podcast. We discussed how the Corona events initiated his decision to write the book and the disruptions around the global economy. We also dived into his book, The Monkey and The Money, which follows the history of capitalism through the lens of an ape.
On the topic of going green and sustainability, we discussed why consulting with the global automotive industry might be a good way to start. We also talked about the power of storytelling and why it is an important key when it comes to leadership- sharing the three different ways of leading the people: the pen, the sword, and the money and which one is the most powerful among them.
In addition, we also dived into the topic of mitigating risks and disruptions, technology and the importance of the human element, and the future of cryptocurrencies.
Listen to the full discussion here:
Connect with the Guest:
Dr. Kjell Anders Nordström is a renowned Swedish economist, writer, and public speaker, who serves as an advisor to many large multinationals throughout the world.
Kjell Nordström has published six books and numerous articles on the internationalization process of firms. The book Funky Business – Talent Makes Capital Dance (co-authored with Jonas Ridderstråle) is a manifesto of what our time requires from business firms and their leaders. Nordströms second book Karaoke Capitalism: Management for Mankind (co-authored with Jonas Ridderstråle) is a new manifesto for how to make it in the world of Karaoke Capitalism. In his sixth book, Momentum (2023), co-written with Per Schlingmann, he examines how the world has been affected by the pandemic, the climate crisis, and the war in Ukraine.
Questions I Asked:
- What’s the story behind the book Momentum and what made you write it?
- How do you see sustainability developing in the next years?
- Why is executive storytelling a key skill for leaders?
- If you were a CEO, where would you focus on in the next couple of years to somehow mitigate risks and disruptions?
- Will AI end up creating the stories that we will end up believing?
- How do you see the future of cryptocurrencies five to ten years down the line?
Show notes:
- [01:22] What prompted you to write Momentum in the first place? And what was kind of the theme that you wanted to address, the big picture?
- [02:40] A chapter in the book tackles the topic of climate, how do you see this developing in the next years?
- [07:42] The pace of change and innovation when it comes to cars varies, and it almost looks like some are in gear four and some are in gear two. How do you see this playing out? Also with the repercussions that this could have?
- [10:38] Why do you think executive storytelling skills are key for leaders?
[15:59] How can companies do storytelling in a conscious way? And if you have certain examples of companies that have done it well and crafted this, and perhaps going a bit deeper than the vision. - [20:21] What would be your advice in the context of somehow mitigating all these risks and disruptions? If you were a CEO, what would be the North stars that you would focus on in the next couple of years?
- [24:15] Will AI end up creating the stories that we will end up believing?
- [32:21] “With the help of AI and machines we’ll see rather a dramatic redefinition of the labor market, the value of education, and what kind of education we value.”
- [37:25] What are kind of the common threads through the centuries if you follow the book, The Monkey and the Money?
- [40:22] Will we be just paying with cryptocurrencies, five to ten years from now? How’s it going to play out?
Quotes from the Episode:
Soundbite from the Episode:
About the Host:
What an inspiring conversation with Kjell Nordstrom! I am your host, Radu Palamariu, Managing Director of Alcott Global for APAC and Europe, working on C-level and top management executive search assignments with Top Fortune 500 companies and local conglomerates in value chains for manufacturing, logistics, transportation, supply chain management, and e-commerce and also the co-author of “From Source to Sold – Stories of Leadership in Supply Chain”.
Alcott Global provides Executive Search Solutions for key positions at all pillars of the end-to-end value chain: planning, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, e-commerce, and overall supply chain operations.
Meet us in Singapore on April 18, and Zurich, on May 16, at the Makers & Movers face-to-face events, where we bring together, value chain executives to connect, collaborate, and innovate – a forum focused on business value creation.
You can nominate supply chain leaders you admire for the 2024 edition of the Leaders in Supply Chain Awards until April 4, 2024. We are looking forward to celebrating and awarding the Top 30 Leaders in Supply Chain of 2024 for their achievements in digitizing operations, decarbonization, and sustainability, as well as in creating a diverse and equitable environment for supply chain teams to thrive and excel.
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